This is a girl-centered initiative to promote peer-led support in a safe space, fostering psychosocial well-being education, and economic empowerment for teenage mothers in Moyo district which has a high rate of teenage pregnancy and early marriage, with limited access to education opportunities all exacerbated by cultural and societal perceptions to girls' education. To date, 68 girls and teenage mothers have participated in the project.
During the COVID pandemic the Uganda government closed schools for 22 months. When schools re-opened in January 2022 it was discovered that 500 school girls in Moyo district had gotten pregnant, many more had dropped out and married, several had babies. Challenges for these girls have included inability to return to school, poor prospects to earn a living in the future along with mental health concerns and stigma.
The project will create safe spaces for peer to peer support and training on life skills facilitated by a social worker. The girls and young women will be encouraged to remain in or return to school through ATF's work in schools. Selected teachers in target schools will receive training in psychosocial counseling and life skills. Participants will given an opportunity to join technical skills and entrepreneurship trainings if they so wish. We aim to reach 100 girls and young women each year.
100 girls each year will stay in school and complete their education, going on to further education. Many girls will gain life skills, entrepreneurship skills and practical technical skills that will enable them earn a living and get out of poverty. The peer to peer support approach will cascade the knowledge and skills as the girls will aim to reach more girls in their communities. ATF's skills building approach will empower supported girls and benefit entire families.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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